1/09/2008

TOKYO -- Global warming could cause temperatures in Japan to rise an average of 4.7 degrees Celsius (8.5 Fahrenheit) above normal by the last three decades of the century, an environment ministry panel has warned.

Japan's rainfall may fluctuate widely between a 2.4 percent decline and a 16.4 percent increase compared with the levels recorded in the final four decades of the last century, the panel said in an interim report this week.

The panel is looking to chart out possible scenarios for climate change in a final report to be submitted ahead of the July summit in Japan of the Group of Eight rich nations, where climate change will be a major issue